Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hollywood, FL
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 13 of 20 categories
Hollywood
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,958 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
152,764 ✓ Larger
McAllen
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
142,722
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hollywood, FL
Pros
Households earn $5,632 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 98°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $345,300
Higher rents — median is $1,463/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than McAllen
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $187k less ($158,700 vs $345,300)
Rent averages $508/mo less ($955 vs $1,463)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Hollywood
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Median income trails Hollywood by $5,632/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Hollywood
Median Income
$5,632
$61,958 vs $56,326/yr
McAllen
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Home Value
$187k less
$158,700 vs $345,300
McAllen
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hollywood, FL | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $345,300⚠ High | $158,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,463⚠ High | $955 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,958 ✓ Higher | $56,326 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 9.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 59 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 39 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.7% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer | 71.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.0" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 152,764 ✓ Larger | 142,722 |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.6% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hollywood's cost of living index is 111.8 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, McAllen leads 13 of 20 categories. Hollywood wins 7 and McAllen wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Hollywood to McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($345,300 vs $158,700 median home), income ($61,958 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hollywood, FL and McAllen, TX are about 1,121 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.